Pre-departure - Alumni Rein Conversi with Big Futures Senior Director Tashanna Rucker
Going Hollywood
Internships are one way BBBSEMO alumni take steps to owning their future. Rein Conversi, ’17, recently completed a once-in-a-lifetime internship in L.A. The Webster University film, television, & video production major spent over a month at Bona Fide Productions – known for hits like “Election” and “Little Miss Sunshine” – reading books and scripts, attending seminars, writing, and taking in some quintessential Angeleño sights and opportunities.
When Rein came to the BBBSEMO office in June to pick up a little something to support his internship, he promised to keep us updated about his experience by sharing photos and notes throughout his stint in Los Angeles. Here’s a look at his summer!
Baggage – Five weeks' essentials in a check-in and two carry-ons: packing light for a packed experience.
Planes, [Boats] & Automobiles – Rein's trip to California involved four flights, beach sights, and palm-tree'd Jeep drives through L.A.
Signs – One way to tell Rein's a St. Louisan: “I’m never gonna get used to this not being Bread Co.”
Office Space – Rein's work area at Bona Fide. (Us: "Is that your dinosaur?" Rein: "Unfortunately not.")
Cooley High – On Day 2 of his Bona Fide experience, Rein saw a 1975 summer hit at a special screening hosted by the Academy that featured a Q&A with some of the film’s cast and crew.
Signs 2 – During his five-week internship, Rein had access to an iconic L.A. feature from his room in Koreatown, one of the most culturally diverse neighborhoods in the country. (Note: Here’s proof Rein was truly there to work – it took him almost two weeks to notice the Hollywood sign from his window!)
Sink or Swim / The Great Outdoors – No trip to L.A.'s complete without a Pacific dip!
The Wrap – Interning in Los Angeles brought learning opportunities outside Bona Fide’s offices. Even up to his second-to-last day, Rein took advantage of what was available. “I was able to tag along with my friends to a seminar on how to get an agent and manager as a writer,” he says. “We also stopped by a Japanese festival in Little Tokyo.”
Rein “Rocketed” out his final day, joining some of his summer roommates for an Avengers Blu-Ray release event…
… and adding one “other, less flattering Avengers photo” to the pictures he shared with us.
Now back in St. Louis and starting junior year at Webster, Rein says his fondest memory of Summer 2019 will be the internship itself. “I’m not always going to get work that I enjoy doing... this experience will do a lot to help me do what I love for a living.”
Rein credits both his Big Brother Ken – a strong, consistent advocate for almost a dozen years now – and the agency for providing the leads and resource connections that made his internship a reality.
“This was an opportunity I couldn’t have achieved without the help of Ken and BBBSEMO. They were there to help support me during my stay in L.A., and it was Ken who help get me in touch with Bona Fide in the first place.”
When the pair recently met to catch up about the summer, Rein told Ken how much he enjoyed spending time with and getting to know Albert Berger [film producer/Bona Fide co-founder]. “He also increased his knowledge about the economics of the film industry quite a bit, too,” Ken says.
Ever the Big Brother, Ken’s happy his Little Brother found the internship so valuable and memorable – and he’s also already thinking about Rein’s prospects even as they celebrate this summer’s accomplishments together. “Rein’s challenge now is to find a job after graduation next May,” says Ken.
Without missing a beat, he adds, “Anyone with contacts in the film industry?”
About Big Futures
Designed to support Littles’ transition to life after high school, Big Futures staff work directly with “alumni Littles” from age 18 through age 25. The program offers guidance and resource connections to empower young people to own their future through education in college or trade school, enlistment in the military, and/or employment at a living wage. BBBSEMO Big Futures staff partner actively with parents, Bigs, and other mentors to help with planning and serve as advocates.
For more information on how you can share opportunity with alumni Littles and Big Futures, contact Senior Director Tashanna Rucker at trucker@bbbsemo.org.
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